Lynn, MA– The Wakefield Warriors overcame a slow start on Friday evening to beat the Lynn English Bulldogs by a score of 22-16 at Manning Field. The win comes with a loss, as Sr. RB/DB Dan Cardillo left the game with a broken ankle in the 2nd Qtr.

English came out of the gate flying as Isiah Davis took the opening kickoff back 90 yards for the score. The PAT went wide left and the score was 6-0 in favor of the hometeam before it even really started.

The Warriors struggled to move the ball on offense and had difficulty holding English on defense for much of the 1st Qtr. Sr. Alec Brown pinned the Bulldogs, with a magnificent punt , to their own 1 yard line with 6:15 to play in the 1st. Two plays later, Cardillo recovered an English fumble and the Warriors went to work quickly. Jr. QB Mike Miller found So. WR Bruce Brown on a 30 yard jump ball down the English sideline. Shortly thereafter, Miller found Sr. WR Conor Coogan for a 4 yard scoring strike. Brian Auld’s extra point made the score 7-6 in a favor of the Warriors.

To Lynn English’s credit, they immediately took the momentum back in their favor with a drive all the way to the Wakefield 17 yard line. Wakefield was able to hold them to a field goal by Chris Lessard and English took back the lead, 9-6, with 0:48 left in the 1st Qtr.

Wakefield opened the 2nd Qtr. with a bang as Miller scampered down the Warrior sideline for a 56 yard score. The PAT was blocked and Wakefield was back up by the score of 13-9. At this point, English began to struggle offensively and Bruce Brown intercepted Lessard’s pass and Wakefield took over on their own 48 with 2:15 left in the half.

Miller immediately found Cardillo on a 36 yard strike over the middle that brought the ball to the English 15 yard line. Cardillo was helped off the field by the training staff as it appeared he got his ankle caught up in the turf. Wakefield then struggled to move the ball without Cardillo on the field and could not convert a 4th down with 0:33 left in the half and English took over where they stalled out. The score was 13-9, Wakefield at the half.

Wakefield came out of the intermission with a little more fire then they did in the 1st half. Miller found Alec Brown across the middle for a 48 yard touchdown pass. Brown made some nifty individual moves on the play as he raced down the English sideline. Wakefield decided to go for the 2 point conversion but failed. The score was now 19-9 in favor of the visitors.

Wakefield then recovered a fumble on the second play after the kickoff at English 38 yard line. Miller immediately found Bruce Brown for a 33 yard pass that brought the ball down to the Wakefield 5 yard line. Lynn English did a great job of holding the Warriors on the next 3 plays. Brian Auld’s 24 yard field goal was good and the score was 22-9 Wakefield with 9:11 left in the 3rd Qtr.

The momentum change did not last long. Lessard found Lucas Harris for a 72 yard touchdown pass. It was all Harris on the play as he made some amazing individual moves to elude the Warrior defense. English converted on the PAT and the score was now 22-16.

The 4th Qtr. was back and forth. Harris caught a tipped pass from Lessard and darted 56 yards to the Wakefield 22 with 8:29 to go in the game. Wakefield was able to hold English on downs and took over with 7:17 left to play. The possessions alternated back and forth with Coogan picking a Lessard pass with 2:52 left in the game. Then Alex Ortega picked a Miller pass and the very next play Ed Wade picked Lessard with 2:25 left.

The Warriors ran out the remaining clock to take the 22-16 victory. The win improves Wakefield to 2-0 on the young season while English drops to 1-1. The Warriors travel to Knowlton Stadium on September 22 to take on the Winchester Sachems. Kick-off is slated for 1:30PM.